Rome's Pantheon Will Soon Charge an Entrance Fee

Some news for anyone planning a trip to Rome in the future: On Thursday, Italian culture minister Dario Franceschini announced that visitors will soon have to pay to enter the Pantheon, reports The Local.

Franceschini first raised the subject of charging a fee to enter the monument in January, citing a need to cover the high costs of running the historic building in the center of Rome. The Pantheon is one of the oldest ancient Roman monuments in the city, and one of few that is currently free (The Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palantine Hill are all accessible with the purchase of a single ticket for 12 euro, for example). Though unconfirmed by the Italian government, reports say that the new entrance fee will be 3 euro.

About seven million people visit the Pantheon every year, a number that increasingly puts stress on the architecture of the building. Many of Italy’s iconic sights have undergone restoration projects in recent years, funded not by the government but by fashion houses: The Colosseum, funded primarily by Tod’s, finally unveiled its restored look early in 2017. Ferragamo paid for the restoration of the Uffizi Gallery, Bulgari for the Spanish Steps, and Fendi for the Trevi Fountain.

Originally a Pagan temple built between 118 and 125 AD, the Pantheon was converted to a Catholic church in 608 AD, which many claim as the reason for it still existing today—and for being so well-preserved. It contains the tombs of Victor Emmanuel II, who became the first king of a united Italy in 1861, and Raphael, the Renaissance artist.